The Groundnut Shell (GS) and Sorghum Husk (SH) was used as an adsorbent for adsorption of Methylene Blue (MB) dye. The adsorbent was characterized using FTIR and Proximate analysis, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectrum showed the presence of absorption bands typical of a plant-based biomaterial. The effects of various experimental parameters, such as initial dye concentration, and contact time on the adsorption extent were investigated. The results showed that the percentage removal of MB dye was increased by increasing the concentrations of dye. The dye concentration was determined by spectrophotometry. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Harkins and Jura models were used to representing the equilibrium data. The Langmuir model was more adequate to represent the equilibrium data for MB with GS, whereas the Temkin model fitted well to both GS and SH for MB. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 7.052 mg/g and 15.3846 mg/g for GS and SH, respectively with MB dye. Adsorption data were modelled using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second-order kinetic equations, power function and Elovich models. It was seen that the pseudo-second-order kinetic equation could best describe the sorption kinetics for all the adsorption processes. It was concluded that GS and SH adsorbent can be utilized as an efficient low-cost adsorbent for removal of Methylene Blue dye.

Biodiesel produced from sunflower seed oil is environmentally friendly, sustainable and feasible as an alternative to conventional diesel fuel. Sunflower seed oil biodiesel was produced through trans-esterification reaction using 200 g sunflower seed oil (SSO), 40g methanol and 0.8g sodium hydroxide (NaOH) catalyst at 55 ℃ reaction temperature and 120-minute reaction time. The experiment was carried out three times and average results evaluated. High yield of the biodiesel (88.31%) was obtained. The fuel property of the biodiesel product was determined by the American standard for testing and materials (ASTM) fuel tests. Some of the properties includes density (0.79 g/cm3), kinematic viscosity (3.59 mm2/s), dynamic viscosity (6.58x10-3 kgm-1s-1), water content (0.04% mass), acid value (0.36 mg KOH/g), flash point (159 °C) and pour point was found to be -19 °C. The results found to be within the range of American standard for testing and materials (ASTM), the fuel tests show that the biodiesel product from Sunflower seed oil can serve as an alternative source for diesel production.

Biodiesel produced from different triglyceride sources is an alternative fuel to petro-diesel. An investigation was carried out with Cassia tora seed oil. The oil was esterified to reduce the FFA content in the oil and trans-esterification of the oil was carried out which involves making use of methanol and sodium hydroxide pellets in a base-catalyzed trans-esterification reaction. 187g Cassia tora oil was trans-esterified with 20 g of methanol and 0.7 g of NaOH pellets at 55°C operating temperature. The outcome was a percentage conversion of 90.53 per cent for Cassia tora feedstock and a by-product of 15.20 g of glycerol (i.e. soap). The physical features of the oil, such as smell and colour, were retained in the biodiesel produced. The density of biodiesel made from Cassia tora oil was determined to be 848.0 kg/m3. The flashpoint was determined to be 135 oC and the acid value and water content were 0.16 (MgKOH/g) and 0.04 (per cent mass), respectively. The kinematic and dynamic viscosities of the generated biodiesel were 4.2mm2/s and 6.49 x 10-3kgm-1s-1, respectively. The pour point was also discovered to be -6 oC. The biodiesel was evaluated using American testing and material standards (ASTM Values). Based on the comparison of measured characteristics with ASTM values, Cassia tora seed oil could be a promising option for biodiesel production